Heartwarming / Beauty and the Beast

Disney's Beauty and the Beast

♪Tale as old as time, Song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the Beast♪

• The dance in the ballroom crosses this with Moment of Awesome.
  • When they meet on the stairs before the dance, there's a moment where the Beast just stares at Belle, grinning like an idiot and blinking furiously; obviously stunned by how she looks.
  • Belle herself has a similar moment as she looks up at him as if to say "Well, not bad!"
• The lyrics of the ballad really narrate the heartwarming behind the moment, especially with the line "bittersweet and strange, finding you can change, learning you were wrong".
  • When they're about to dance, the Beast is visibly (and audibly) nervous, and then Belle guides his hands to their proper place and makes him feel at ease. She even gives him an encouraging smile as they begin.
  • It's the moment she put her head on his chest that really sells it, as well as the Beast's glee. His glance at Lumiere and Cogsworth (who silently cheer him on) is the cherry on top.
• The enchanted objects offering Maurice hospitality.
• "Cheer up, child. It'll turn out alright in the end. You'll see," at which Belle smiles for the first time since meeting the Beast.
• During the "Something There" montage, the Beast is helpless with his spoon, so Belle ignores any technical rules of etiquette to pick up the bowl and sip from its edge, which the Beast then imitates with a grateful smile. The reason he's struggling with the spoon in the first place is that he noticed Belle looking at him awkwardly while he was slobbering down his meal like, well, an animal. The bowl drinking is a meeting in the middle moment that defines the pair's growing relationship beautifully. That he makes the effort to eat with said spoon no doubt helps to speed her emerging feelings along, and his surprise and joy, when she lifts her bowl, is a melting moment for anyone who's ever felt embarrassingly "different" the way he does.
  • Belle helps the Beast feed some birds. When the birds shy away from him, she has him put his paws on the ground, and uses grain to convince a little one feed from his palms. The Beast gives a delighted smile and sings an internal monologue about how things are different now but he's scared that it's Too Good to Be True.
  • During the same moment, Belle pelts the Beast with a snowball. He's at first shocked, as she giggles. Then he finds it Actually Pretty Funny and prepares to return the favor. The Beast is also astounded that she's no longer scared of him.
• The Beast saves Belle from a pack of wolves her first night in the castle. While grand and daring and heroic, it might also be motivated somewhat by selfishness: if she dies, he has no chance of becoming human again. The first truly selfless act we see from him is when he takes Belle with him to show her the castle library, which he presents to her as a surprise gift. His childlike glee and excitement as he pulls open the drapes, and her expression of astonishment and wonder (matching the audience's), are truly touching, and the first signs that there really is hope for them.
  • Saving her from the wolves, arguably, is a selfless act as the Beast is in no position to compel her to return to the castle afterwards and may have been intended as a Heroic Sacrifice (as discussed in the commentary).
  • It helps that Belle returns the favor by not leaving him to die in the snow after he collapses from the effort of said rescue. She has no reason to help but does so.
  • When Belle is tending to the Beast's wound, he starts licking it like a wounded dog would. She immediately tells him to not do that, with a genuine look of concern on her face. Belle is a smart girl, and knows that licking an open wound will only cause infection. It's nice to see that Belle has gone from not wanting anything to do with the Beast to genuinely worrying about his well-being.
• The single most manly expression of love in animation since Fist of the North Star.
  Beast: I let her go.
  Cogsworth: (laughs) Yes, yes, splen - You what? How could you do that?
  Beast: I had to.
  Cogsworth: Yes, but, but, but but why?
  Beast: Because I love her.
  • Look closely when Belle first walks away from the Beast: He reaches out to her, silently begging for her to stay.
  • Earlier in the film, Belle sings "And for once, it might be grand to have someone understand...I want so much more than they've got planned." When the Beast tells Belle to take the mirror with her "so you have a way to look back...and remember me", Belle smiles and says "Thank you for understanding how much he needs me."
• The whole of the Transformation Sequence is this.
  • When the Beast is dying after Gaston stabs him:
    Beast: You came back?
    Belle: Of course I came back! I couldn't let them...oh, this is all my fault. If only I'd gotten here sooner...
    Beast: Maybe it's better...it's better this way.
    Belle: Don't talk like that! You'll be all right. We're together now, everything's going to be fine, you'll see.
    Beast: And... at least..I got to see you...one last time. *closes his eyes and dies*
    Belle: No! No! Please! Please! Please don't leave me... I love you.
  • It's worth mentioning that the Beast, even in his dying moments, thinks it might be better if he dies. A lot of people take this to be selfish, as if he thinks it's better for him to die than live as a Beast, but think about it: Belle had returned, so the Beast knew she at least cared enough to make sure he was okay. He knew that there was a chance the spell could be broken in time. More than likely, "it's better this way" meant that the Beast thought it would be better for BELLE if he dies, so she wouldn't have to be in a relationship with an ugly Beast. He doesn't think he's good enough for her.
  • And when the Beast transforms back into a Prince, after a scene that pretty much defines Visual Effects of Awesome... even if you're disappointed with how he looks, the joy in his and Belle's expressions and voices is just so contagious and wonderful. And then they share a kiss that literally sets off fireworks, which transform the castle and its inhabitants back to their original state. Apparently, the screenplay describes it as "The kiss that has waited for so long."
    • That kiss was so passionate, it made it go from night-time to full-blown daylight.
    • That Belle hesitates, despite him turning into a handsome prince, until she looks into his eyes. That's what convinces Belle it's him.
    • It's just as wonderful in the stage shows; often the Prince will feel his head and body, hardly able to believe that the curse is broken, and is so happy he can hardly speak at first.
    • As the final dance was recycled from Sleeping Beauty, Belle and her prince go in for one more kiss just like Aurora and Phillip, only here it's a blink and you'll miss it moment, as it happens just as the stained glass depiction of them is fading in.
  • The first "You came back!" is a sweet moment as well. The sheer joy and awe he has.
• Though not technically part of the movie, the dedication to lyricist Howard Ashman, who died during production of the movie, at the end of the credits was certainly heartwarming.
  To our friend, Howard
  Who gave a mermaid her voice
  And a beast his soul,
  We will be forever grateful.
  • Combined with Tear Jerker when after the hugely successful first screening of the film, the filmmakers visited Howard Ashman in the hospital to share the great news and to say their goodbyes. According to producer Don Hahn, he said to Ashman: "Beauty and the Beast was going to be a great success. Who'd have thought it?" Ashman's response? "I would have."
  • The version of the song played during the end credits is even more heartwarming than the version sung by Mrs. Potts.
• The simple moment when Belle thanks Beast for saving her life. It's the look of shock on his face as he hears her sincerely thanking him that really drives home this moment is the starting point of his redemption. Him saying "You're welcome" as we pan away from the cozy room is icing on the cake.
  • It's the first time in the film someone acknowledges that the Beast did something right and good, proving to the audience (and himself) that he is not a monster in spite of his rugged appearances and grumpy behavior.
  • Fridge Brilliance: What prompted her to thank him was when he groaned at her cleaning his wound. Why? Because she was surprised when his response to pain was a vulnerable, human-sounding wince, as opposed to roaring like an agonized lion. This is the first hint of human behavior she's seen from him.
• Belle's entire relationship with her father, like how she tries to cheer him up, she tries her best to save him and risks her life for him and he for her, and how she leaves the castle to care for him when he's sick and does her best to prove that the Beast is real so he won't get thrown into the asylum.
  • There is a slight one from Maurice during the scene in the workshop. Belle asks him if he thinks she's odd. He immediately asks "My daughter, odd?! Where would you get an idea like THAT?!" His tone of voice and expression more or less scream "Okay, who is this person who told you you were odd and where are they so I can give them a lesson in how to treat my little princess?"
• From the stage show, "No Matter What". It really shows how much Belle and Maurice love each other.
  You're never strange, don't ever change. You're all I've got, no matter what.
• And also from the stage show, "Home (Reprise)."
  Cheer up, child. It'll turn out all right in the end, you'll see.
• All of the enchanted objects' delight at being changed back, especially Chip, who may have been kind of cute as an object, but is just cute as a button as a boy.
  • In the stage production, the poor kid can't even move. The other servants can at least walk around, but he can only be pushed on the tea cart and hope for the curse to be broken. And since he's so young, this is probably all he's ever known. Him showing up at the end able to actually run around on his own, is adorable!
• The relationship that all the servants have towards the Beast. Here is this spoiled brat that has gotten them morphed into household appliances, and yet every day they are there for him, trying to help him see the error of his ways and change himself for the better. Never once do they blame the Beast for their predicament, and in fact they actually put their lives on the line to protect him by driving off the attackers in the climactic battle despite the fact that they can be injured and/or killed (as was shown by the feather duster and Lumiere).
  • When Lumiere and Mrs. Potts are offering the Beast tips on how to make himself more "presentable" to Belle, he tries his best to take their advices to heart. Although his patience does start to wane when their suggestions pile on, this respect towards the two hints at his arc of regaining his humanity.
  • Hell, the Beast even tells them to do nothing and let the villagers come, even in the depths of his despair he does try to protect them.
  • Not to mention the Prince's effervescent glee at seeing his friends human again.
    Prince: Lumiere! Cogsworth! Mrs. Potts!? Oh, look at us!
  • Compare the above two points to his treatment of them earlier in the film. They duck and hide whenever he throws a tantrum, suggesting that the relationship between servant and master is far from healthy. Over the course of the film he learns to accept their advice and offers of help, demonstrating his newfound maturity and acceptance of himself.
• Cogsworth pulling a Big Damn Heroes for Lumiere and Lumiere pulling one for Babette, especially when Lumiere catches her and they both exchange an adorable expression.
• After they've driven out the villagers, Lumiere gives Cogsworth a Smooch of Victory as thanks for saving his life.
• When it seems the Beast is dead, and they are stuck as objects, Cogsworth takes time to comfort a tearful Mrs. Potts. Then when the transformation starts, they have awed expressions. Lumiere gains a "Hell, Yes!" Moment as he realizes what this means.
• The Beast showing Belle the enormous library in his castle. Her look of amazement seals it.
  • If a modern person understands that only the upperclass of pre-21st century could afford even a small library (given how expensive it could be) it's pretty heartwarming to imagine how elated Belle felt upon seeing The Beast's enormous library.
• When Gaston mocks Belle for being in love with the Beast and calls the latter a monster, Belle retorts that the Beast is no monster, and that Gaston is. Note that she doesn't deny having feelings for the Beast; in what she said, she sees Beast as a far better person than Gaston will ever be.
  Gaston: If I didn't know any better, I think you'd have feelings for this monster...!
  Belle: He's no monster, Gaston. YOU ARE!
  • It becomes more heartwarming when you realize that this IS the end of Belle's character arc. When the film starts, she's opinionated but mostly keeps her thoughts to herself (more out of politeness than anything else). When Gaston is cornering her in not only the village but in her home, Belle is polite and is more prone to using trickery to get out of messes. Even when Gaston is threatening to incarcerate Maurice if she doesn't accept his proposal, Belle doesn't outright call him out for his crappy behavior. Instead, she immediately goes for the mirror to prove the Beast exists. Her interactions with the Beast cause her to state her opinions and stand her ground. People who claim Belle is a static character miss this critical moment. It's the first time she's ever told Gaston outright just what a bad person he is.
• When the Beast has Gaston dangling over the ledge, he almost kills him...then decides to spare his life. It's a small moment, but it shows how much the Beast has changed: if the confrontation had happened early on, he probably wouldn't hesitate to kill Gaston, but after spending time with Belle, he's softened enough to overcome his anger and choose to spare a life, rather then take it.
  • He's all set to kill Gaston until the man says "I'll do anything!" The same words that Belle said when begging for Beast to spare her father. The only reason that he is willing to let Gaston live is because the man inadvertently triggered a memory of Belle, and his love for her soothed his anger enough to end the fighting.
• A moment that's easy to miss, but as the screen zooms out as Belle and the Beast dance in the end, Lumiere and Babette can be seen holding hands. Also, we just saw (and then heard) Lumiere and Cogsworth getting into a scrap only a few seconds earlier. Somehow, Babette managed to quickly break them up.
• A minor one, but when Belle sees her father passed out in the snow, she expresses her worry that he might die alone. The Beast's look of concern for Maurice is just one more indication of how much he's changed, given that he didn't care at all for Maurice when they first met. Give Maurice some credit too, for going through the cold alone, all just to rescue Belle from the castle.
  • It's also nice to see that the Beast is now capable of empathizing with Belle and Maurice at this point. It could be seen as a My God, What Have I Done? moment, since Maurice wouldn't be in this situation if the Beast hadn't imprisoned him in the beginning.
• On the flip-side of the above, later in the movie, when Belle and Maurice are trapped in the cellar by the mob, when Belle tries to get them out to warn the Beast, Maurice comforts her when she expresses guilt and fear at what's happening. He then tells her "We'll think of something...", apparently having no problem with wanting to help the Beast that he had until very recently thought was a monstrous villain still keeping his daughter prisoner. Whether from her reassurances when he woke up, what she may have told him while they were still trapped in the cellar, just trusting/supporting his daughter that much, or all three, Maurice either completely changed his mind about the Beast, or put aside any of his concerns, enough so that he wanted to help Belle save him. Compounding this is that if you look closely when Belle arrives on Phillipe at the castle to try and stop Gaston, you can see Maurice with her too. Maurice went to save the creature he had only a few hours ago thought was a heartless monster, either for his daughter's sake or because he believed her that he had changed. He also looks worried when Belle calls out for Gaston to stop attacking the Beast. It shows that Belle isn't the only one that doesn't judge based on appearances, or first impressions...
• At the end of the movie, Maurice is attending the wedding. He's wiping away Tears of Joy on seeing his daughter with a man who appreciates her, and smiles as Mrs. Potts reassures her son that the two will live Happily Ever After. Then he can't help but giggle when Chip asks his mother innocently if he still has to sleep in the cupboard.
• Belle and Beast's little "Two? Two." scene in the middle of "Human Again" is both hilarious and adorable. It's specially sweet to see with more detail Belle and the Beast bonding over books and stories.
  • Look at Beast’s face when Belle was reading the book. He is completely enamored by her.
  • If you look closely when Belle says she’ll help the Beast read, you can see him give a small, appreciative smile.
  • Generally, the Beast's admittance that he's rusty with reading. As opposed to blowing up impatiently like he previously did, he's emotionally matured enough to be vulnerable and admit shortcomings when needs be. In turn, this allows Belle to open up and offer to help him.
• In the stage show, Belle teaching the Beast to read and Beast talking about how that he never knew that books could do that; help him to forget his fate. It's in the special edition of the movie too, restored with "Human Again".
  • He also is genuinely surprised that anyone could think Belle was odd, especially over something like reading.
• In the stage show, Lumiere and Cogsworth are discussing coworkers and what they've turned into, eventually coming to someone they both describe as "dumb as a brick" and who Cogsworth seems not to have much fondness for. Then Lumiere explains said coworker is the brick wall behind the stove and Cogsworth is legitimately horrified on the man's behalf.
• The Beast is initially just as belligerent and hostile in the stage show as he was in the animated film, but careful audience members will notice that he occasionally seems to look to Mrs. Potts for guidance and comfort. It's clear that he loves Mrs. Potts in particular as his adopted mother.
  • In particular, this one dialogue exchange that takes place after the Beast lets Belle go to find her father:
    Beast: I let her go
    Cogsworth: You what?!?
    Lumiere: How could you do that?
    Beast: I had to.
    Cogsworth: But why?
    Mrs. Potts: After all this time, he's finally learned to love.
  • Most directors will stage this with the Beast looking to Mrs. Potts after Cogsworth's question, overwhelmed by emotion and at a complete loss for words. And from just that look, she knows exactly what's in his head.
• A moment with the bookshop when the bookshop keeper let's Belle take the book because it's her favorite. As she protests, he insists. Also notice that he's not part of the angry mob that comes to see her father committed.
  • The scene with the Bookseller is especially heartwarming because he's shown as having a very good relationship with Belle, unlike most of the other villagers, with him being elated to see her come visit his shop. Unlike Gaston, who is of the opinion that women shouldn't read, the kind, grandfatherly Bookseller is absolutely ecstatic about Belle's love for books. What's more is that his scene is set in between the parts where the other villagers are singing about how abnormal Belle is, with the Bookseller's genuine kindness and encouragement providing a great contrast, and showing that, besides her father, there's at least one other person in the village who doesn't think of Belle as the weird girl obsessed with books.
• The Beast catches Belle visiting Maurice in the dungeon and tells her he's a prisoner. Belle offers to exchange herself for Maurice. The Beast accepts, taking Belle and sending Maurice back to the village.
  • Adding to that, the way the Beast pauses in shock before and while asking "You would... take his place?" It's the earliest sign that the Beast has feelings despite being a tough nut to crack.
• After the exchange, Belle is of course inconsolable that she will condemned to a dark dungeon for the rest of her days. The Beast has something else in mind:
  Beast: Come, I'll show you to your room.
  Belle My room?
  Beast: You wan-You wanna stay in the tower?
  Belle: No...
  Beast: Then follow me.
  • With that, the Beast takes Belle to a beautifully appointed bedchamber, and that's even before she meets the charming household staff. Yes, everyone there is doing this for ultimately their own gain and it's a Gilded Cage, but it is still far better than Belle was expecting and she has cause to feel better about her situation.
• The Villain Song Gaston is a warped yet touching song, by LeFou and the cronies to cheer up Gaston after his humiliation at his failed proposal to Belle, additionally showing how much they admire him, even if he doesn't truly return the affections.
• Really think about the whole context behind "Be Our Guest." The enchanted castle servants, knowing Belle is distraught at being a prisoner and losing contact with her father, decide to serve her delicious food and put on a show for her to lift her spirits and ensure that her first night in such a frightening place has at least a bit of levity. From Belle's perspective, this helps her realize that even if her captor is a heartless monster, (which he thankfully turns out not to be) the other inhabitants of the castle are willing to make her feel at ease and let her know she isn't as lonely as she seems. It's also probably the most welcome she's ever felt in her life, given that most people in town tended to dismiss her as an oddball.
  • And for the castle servants, it's the first time after years of "rusting" that they've able to go back to doing what they love most in the world. It shows they really do enjoy being hospitable to anyone who walks through the castle doors. And despite having no visitors to the castle for years, they don't seem in the slightest bit out of practice. Nor do they let the fact that they've been cursed get in the way of giving Belle the greatest welcome party of her life.

---